4       Pre-installation

This section contains the pre-installation requirements for a successful installation and functioning of the OFS Balance Computation Engine application.

Topics:

·        Pre-installation Checklist

·        Hardware and Software Requirements and Specifications

·        Preparing for Installation

·        Oracle Database Instance Settings

·        Web Application Server Settings

·        Web Server Settings

·        Create the Installation, Download and Metadata Directories

·        Configure the OS File System Settings and Environment Settings in the .profile File 

Pre-installation Checklist

In order to successfully complete the pre-installation process, you must perform the following steps listed in the Pre-installation Checklist table. Use this checklist to verify whether these steps are completed or not.

Table 8: Pre-installation Checklist

 

Sl. No.

Activity

1

Install all the prerequisite hardware and software as per the Tech Stack.

2

Install and configure for the Big Data (Only for the Big Data installation).

3

Verify the System Environment using the Environment Check Utility.

4

Download the OFS BCE Application installer.

5

Download the mandatory patches.

6

Configure the Database Instance settings.

7

Install and configure the web application server.

8

Configure the HTTP settings on the webserver.

9

Create the Installation, Download, and Metadata Repository Directories:

·        Installation directory

·        Temporary directory

·        Staging Area/Metadata Repository

·        Download directory

10

Configure the following Operating System and File System settings:

·        File Descriptor

·        Total number of processes

·        Port(s)

·        .profile file permissions

·        Set Up the SFTP Private Key

11

Update the following Environment Settings as required for the installation in the .profile file:

·        Java Settings

·        Oracle Database Server and Client Settings

·        Add TNS entries in the tnsnames.ora file

·        Oracle Essbase Settings

·        Time Zone Settings

 

Hardware and Software Requirements and Specifications

This section describes the various Operating System, database, web server, and web application server version and other variant details on which this release of the Oracle Financial Services Balance Computation Engine application has qualified.

See the Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications (OFSAA) Technology Matrix Release 8.1.0.0.0 document for the Hardware and Software requirements required for this release.

Topics:

·        Big Data Settings

·        Third-party Licensing Information

·        Verify the System Environment

Table 9: Recommended Software Combination

Operating System

Database

Web Application Server

Web Server

Oracle Linux

Oracle Database

Oracle WebLogic Server/ Apache Tomcat Server

Oracle HTTP Server/ Apache HTTP Server

 

Big Data Settings

This is an optional section and required only if you intend to install the OFSAA Big Data Processing. See the Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications (OFSAA) Technology Matrix Release 8.1.0.0.0 for the software required for the Big Data software Hadoop Distribution on the Oracle Financial Services Data Foundation Application Pack Release 8.1.0.0.0.

·        Install CDH. For installation information, see the Cloudera documentation at https://docs.cloudera.com/.

Third-party Licensing Information

For details on the third-party software tools used, see the Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications (OFSAA) Licensing Information User Manual Release 8.1.0.0.0.

Verify System Environment

To verify your system environment meets the minimum requirements for the installation, a Pre-Install Check utility is available within the Install Kit archive file. This utility can also be obtained separately by contacting Oracle Support Services.

Though the system environment verification is an integral and automated part of the installation of this software product, Oracle strongly recommends running this utility before beginning the installation as part of your organization's "Installation Readiness Verification Process".

For more details on download and usage of this utility, see the Oracle Financial Services Advanced Analytical Applications Infrastructure Environment Check Utility Guide Release 8.1.x.

Preparing for Installation

This section details the preparatory procedures that must be followed before triggering the installation.

Topics:

·        Download the OFSBCE Application Installer

·        Prerequisites for Installation

·        Download the Mandatory Patches

Download the OFSBCE Application Installer

To download the OFSBCE Application Installer Release v8.1.0.0.0, follow these steps:

1.     Log in to the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud  with a valid Oracle account.

Figure 3: Oracle Software Delivery Cloud Login Page

2.     Search for the full product name Oracle Financial Services Balance Computation Engine with the release version number and download the installer archive.

Figure 4: Oracle Software Delivery Cloud Page

3.     Copy the installer archive into the download directory (in Binary mode) in the setup identified for the OFSBCE installation.

Prerequisites for Installation

This is a new installation and following are the prerequisites to install the OFSBCE application:

·        Oracle Financial Services Data Foundation (OFSDF) Application Pack Release v8.1.0.0.0 plus other prerequisite OFSDF patches (see the Installer and Installation Prerequisites section of the Oracle Financial Services Data Foundation Application Pack Installation and Configuration Guide Release 8.1.0.0.0) must be installed and configured in your Machine.

 

NOTE

The installation prerequisites for the OFSDF Application Pack v8.1.0.0.0 and OFS BCE Application v8.1.0.0.0 are the same for the RDBMS mode of installation.

 

Download the Mandatory Patches

The following table includes information about the mandatory patches that must be applied.

Table 10: Mandatory Patches

One-Off Patch

Description

31605076

Access to features owing to the additional license functionality that gets installed through the OFS AAI Extension Pack.

31545589

For pack-on-pack installation on a new atomic schema.

33663417

Download this mandatory OFSAAI One-off Patch. See the ATTENTION below.

 

 

ATTENTION

For the Mandatory Patch ID 33663417:

On the 10th of December 2021, Oracle released the Security Alert CVE-2021-44228 in response to the disclosure of a new vulnerability affecting Apache Log4J prior to version 2.15. The application of the 33663417 Mandatory Patch fixes the issue.

For details, see the My Oracle Support Doc ID 2827801.1.

Ensure that you reapply the OFSAAI Mandatory Patch 33663417 whenever you Install or Upgrade the Application, or whenever you apply an Incremental Patch.

 

 

NOTE

Ensure that the tablespace or tablespaces used for the database user or users is set to AUTOEXTEND ON.

 

Oracle Database Instance Settings

Ensure that the following database instance settings are configured:

·        NLS_CHARACTERSET to AL32UTF8

·        NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS to BYTE

·        OPEN CURSORS limit to greater than 1000

Web Application Server Settings

Ensure that the web application server is installed and the profile (when using WebSphere) or domain (when using WebLogic) is created.

Table 11: Web Application Server Settings

Description

Example Value

WebSphere/ WebLogic/ Tomcat

Web Application Server should be installed and the profile/domain created.

You will be prompted to enter the WebSphere Profile path, the WebLogic Domain path, or the Tomcat Deployment path during OFSAAI installation.

NOTE: See the Configure the Web Server section for WebSphere Profile and WebLogic Domain creation.

 

Web Server Settings

This is an optional requirement. If you have installed an HTTP Server, then configure the appropriate HTTP server settings:

Table 12: Web Server Settings

Description

Example Value

Apache HTTP Server/ Oracle HTTP Server/ IBM HTTP Server

Configure the HTTP Server and note down the IP/ Hostname and Port details as you will be prompted to enter these details during installation.

NOTE: See the Configure the Web Server section for web server configuration.

 

Create the Installation, Download and Metadata Directories

To install the OFSBCE Application, create the following directories:

·        OFSBCE Download Directory (Optional): Create a download directory and copy the OFSBCE Application Installer File (archive).  This is the directory where the downloaded installer/ patches can be copied. Assign 755 permission to this directory.

·        OFSAA Installation Directory (Mandatory): Create an installation directory where the product binaries are installed. Assign 755 user permission to the installation directory. FIC_HOME variable to be set in the .profile pointing to this OFSAA Installation Directory.

·        OFSAA Staging/Metadata Repository Directory (Mandatory): A directory to hold the application metadata artifacts and additionally act as the staging area for the flat files. This directory is also referred to as "FTPSHARE". Create a Staging/Metadata Repository Directory to copy data files, save data extracts, and so on.

The directory must exist on the same system as the OFSAA Installation. This directory can be configured on a different mount or under a different user profile. However, the owner of the installation directory must have RWX (775) permissions to this directory.

 

NOTE

Ensure the OFSAA staging directory is not set to the same path as the OFSAA installation directory and is not a subdirectory inside the OFSAA installation directory.

 

·        OFSBCE Hive Directory (Mandatory for Big Data Installation): Create a directory for the file system stage area of the Hive server. This is commonly referred to as “FTPSHAREH” or “HIVE_SERVER_FTPDRIVE”. Ensure that the user permission is set to 775 on the Installation Directory.

Configure the OS File System Settings and Environment Settings in the .profile File

Topics:

·        Configure Operating System and File System Settings

·        Configure the Environment Settings

A .profile file is a start-up file of a UNIX user. Create the .profile file at the home directory of the logged-in user if it is not already available. The user must have 755 permission on the file to execute it. This file consists of various parameters for Environment Settings, OS, and File System Settings.

To set the parameters for the .profile file, login as a non-root user, and configure the environment settings.

WARNING

Do not modify any other parameters other than the parameters mentioned in the following subsections.

 

Configure Operating System and File System Settings

The following table displays the required settings for the operating system and file system.

Table 13: Configure Operating System and File System Settings

Parameter

Configuration Action

Installation Directory

In the .profile file, set the variable FIC_HOME to point to the OFSAA Installation Directory.

File Descriptor Settings

In the sysctl.conf file, to change the number of file descriptors, do the following as the root user:

1.     Edit the following line in the /etc/sysctl.conf file:

fs.file-max = <value>

where <value> is greater than 15000

2.     Apply the change by running the following command:

# /sbin/ sysctl -p

NOTE: The value specified here is the minimum value to be set for the installation process to go forward. For other modules, this value may depend on the available resources and the number of processes executed in parallel.

Total Number of Process Settings

In the sysctl.conf file set the value to greater than 4096.

NOTE: The value specified here is the minimum value to be set for the installation process to go forward. For other modules, this value may depend on the available resources and the number of processes executed in parallel.

Port Settings

Default port numbers to be enabled on the system are 6500, 6501, 6505, 6507, 6509, 6510, 6666, 9999, and 10101.

.profile permissions

You must have 755 permission on the .profile file.

OS Locale

·        Linux: en_US.utf8

·        AIX: EN_US.UTF-8

·        Solaris: en_US.UTF-8

To check the locale installed, execute the following

command:

locale -a | grep -i 'en_US.utf'

 

Configure the Environment Settings

This section provides information to configure the environment settings before installation.

Topics:

·        Java Settings

·        Oracle Database Server and Client Settings

·        TNS Entries in TNSNAMES.ORA File

·        Oracle Essbase Settings

·        Time Zone Settings 

 

NOTE

If you are installing an application pack on an environment, where another application pack is already installed, you may sometimes get a warning message such as "Object Already Exists". This message can be ignored.

 

Java Settings

The following table displays the Java settings required for installation.

Table 14: Java Settings

Description

Example Value

In the .profile file, set PATH to include the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) absolute path.

Ensure that SYMBOLIC links to JAVA installation are not set in the PATH variable.

JAVA_HOME=/scratch/jdk<<version>>/jre

For example: PATH=/usr/java/jre1.8.0_221/bin:$ORACLE_ HOME/ bin:$PATHJAVA_HOME=/scratch/jdk<<version>>/jre

In the .profile file, set PATH to include the Java Runtime Environment bin path.

JAVA_BIN=/scratch/<<version>>/jre/bin

For example:

PATH=/usr/java/jre1.8.0_221/bin:$ORACLE_ HOME/bin:$PATH

Enable unlimited cryptographic policy for Java.

For more information, see the Enabling Unlimited Cryptographic Policy for Java section from the OFS Analytical Applications Infrastructure Administration Guide.

 

Oracle Database Server and Client Settings

The following table displays the Oracle Database server and client settings required for installation.

Table 15: Oracle Database Server and Client Settings

Description

Example Value

In the .profile file, set TNS_ADMIN pointing to the appropriate tnsnames.ora file.

TNS_ADMIN=$HOME/tns

In the .profile file, set ORACLE_HOME pointing to the appropriate Oracle Client installation.

ORACLE_HOME=/scratch/oraofss/app_client18c/product/ 18.0.0/client_1

In the .profile file, set PATH to include the appropriate $ORACLE_HOME/bin path.

PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$ORACLE_HOME/bin

OFSAA Processing Server

 

·        ORACLE_HOME must be set in the .profile file and point to appropriate Oracle DB Client installation.

·        PATH in the .profile file must be set to include the appropriate $ORACLE_HOME/bin path.

·        Ensure that an entry (with SID/SERVICE NAME) is added in the tnsnames.ora file.

 

TNS entries in the TNSNAMES.ORA file for Non-TCPS and TCPS

This section provides information about the TNS entries in the TNSNAMES.ORA file.

Topics:

·        Non-TCPS

·        TCPS

Non-TCPS

Table 16: TNS entries in the TNSNAMES.ORA file for Non-TCPS

Description

Example Value

Ensure that an entry (with SID/ SERVICE NAME) is added in the tnsnames.ora file on the OFSAA server.

<SID_NAME> = DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = <HOST_NAME>.in.oracle.com)(PORT = 1521)))(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = <SID_NAME>)))<ATOMIC_SCHEMA_NAME> = (DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = <HOST_NAME>.in.oracle.com)(PORT = 1521)))(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = <SID_NAME>)))

 

<SID NAME> =

  (DESCRIPTION =

    (ADDRESS_LIST =

      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = <HOST NAME>)(PORT = <PORT NUMBER>))

    )

    (CONNECT_DATA =

      (SERVICE_NAME = <SID NAME>)

    )

  )

 

<ATOMICSCHEMANAME> =

  (DESCRIPTION =

    (ADDRESS_LIST =

      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = <HOST NAME>)(PORT = <PORT NUMBER>))

    )

    (CONNECT_DATA =

      (SERVICE_NAME = <SID NAME>)

    )

  )

 

NOTE

The ATOMIC SCHEMA NAME must be the same as defined in the OFS_<App Pack>_SCHEMA_IN.xml file.

 

TCPS

Table 17: TNS entries in the TNSNAMES.ORA file for TCPS

Description

Example Value

Ensure that an entry (with SID/ SERVICE NAME) is added in the tnsnames.ora file on the OFSAA server.

<SID_NAME> = DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = <HOST_NAME>.in.oracle.com)(PORT = 1521)))(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = <SID_NAME>)))<ATOMIC_SCHEMA_NAME> = (DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = <HOST_NAME>.in.oracle.com)(PORT = 1521)))(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = <SID_NAME>)))(security=(ssl_server_cert_dn=CN=<HOST_NAME>))))

Ensure that an entry (with WALLET_HOME and wallet parameters) is added in the sqlnet.ora file on the OFSAA server must be the same as the Oracle database server running with TCPS.

NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES, EZCONNECT)WALLET_LOCATION = (SOURCE = (METHOD = FILE) (METHOD_DATA = (DIRECTORY = <PATH TO WALLET DIRECTORY>)))SQLNET.WALLET_OVERRIDE = TRUE SSL_CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION = FALSE'SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (TCPS,NTS,BEQ)'SSL_CIPHER_SUITES = (SSL_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA, SSL_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA)

 

<SID NAME> =

  (DESCRIPTION =

    (ADDRESS_LIST =

      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = <HOST NAME>)(PORT = <PORT NUMBER>))

    )

    (CONNECT_DATA =

      (SERVICE_NAME = <SID NAME>)

(security=(ssl_server_cert_dn=CN=<HOST NAME>))

    )

  )

 

<ATOMICSCHEMANAME> =

  (DESCRIPTION =

    (ADDRESS_LIST =

      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = <HOST NAME>)(PORT = <PORT NUMBER>))

    )

    (CONNECT_DATA =

      (SERVICE_NAME = <SID NAME>)

 

(security=(ssl_server_cert_dn=CN=<HOST NAME>))    )

  )

 

NOTE

The ATOMIC SCHEMA NAME must be the same as defined in the OFS_BFND_SCHEMA_IN.xml file, which also includes prefix without underscore. For example, DEVOFSAAATM.

 

Oracle Essbase Settings

In the .profile file, set the following parameters if you want to use Oracle Hyperion Essbase OLAP features.

Table 18: Oracle Essbase Settings

Description

Example Value

ARBORPATH to point to an appropriate Oracle Essbase Client installation.

PATH=$PATH:$ARBORPATH/bin

ESSBASEPATH to point to an appropriate Oracle Essbase Client installation.

ESSBASEPATH=/scratch/essps3/Oracle/MiddlewareHome/EPMSystem11R1/common/EssbaseRTC-64/11.1.2.0

export ESSBASEPATH

HYPERION_HOME to point to an appropriate Oracle Essbase Client installation.

HYPERION_HOME=/scratch/essps3/Oracle/MiddlewareHome/EPMSystem11R1/common/EssbaseRTC-64/11.1.2.0

export HYPERION_HOME

 

Time Zone Settings

In the .profile file, set the Time Zone parameter to indicate the time zone of your region/ location.

Table 19: Time Zone Settings

Description

Example Value

Time Zone

TZ=Asia/Calcutta